Senate Leader Atkins’ Sea Level Rise Legislation Passes Assembly
SACRAMENTO – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) released the following statement on SB 1 passing the Assembly in a 58-10 bipartisan vote:
“Sea level rise is the challenge of a generation, and it stands to inflict damage on California for generations to come. From jeopardizing our drinking water and crops to collapsing our roadways and infrastructure, the devastation it will cause California and our coastal communities is immense. SB 1 modernizes the Coastal Act in a way that would add continuity, resources, and responsiveness to our state’s efforts regarding sea level rise, and comes at a moment when catastrophic events, like a portion of Highway 1 sliding into the ocean, are jarring us awake to the dire implications of climate change and sea level rise.
“I’m appreciative to my colleagues in the Assembly for passing this critical climate change legislation, and enacting the tools our coastal communities need to address this threat and safeguard the residents and businesses who call them home. Thank you to my principal coauthors, Senator Henry Stern and Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, and coauthors Senators Bob Hertzberg, Ben Hueso, John Laird, Monique Limón, and Anthony Portantino for their support of this bill.”
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Toni G. Atkins is President pro Tempore of the California Senate. Having previously served as Speaker of the California Assembly, she began her tenure in the Senate in 2016. As Senator for District 39, she represents the cities of San Diego, Coronado, Del Mar and Solana Beach. Website of President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins: www.senate.ca.gov/Atkins